Shorterned Number Plate Mount, inspired by dickys imola beast Options

[Danw8986]

This DIY will guide you through shortening your number plate mount to fit the size of your plate nicely, this was insired by Dickys imola beast (gone but not forgoten) Big thanks to Dicky for talking me through the basics of the procedure.

Aim:

materials and tools needed:

1 plate suround
hack saw or fine plastic saw blade
soldering iron
plastic cut offs
pen
ruler
plastic primer
paint and lacure


1. sorce a number plate suround (£30 from the dealership) i got mine from cwality83

2. prepare the mount by sanding down all the lacure so that when you come to paint the primer sticks to the base nicely

3. the numberplate measues 52.7 cms you will need to draw a line down the center of the plate 26.35cms from the edge (this has been messured from the inside of the lip)

4. once you have your center point calculate how much shorter you want the plate holder to be, i measured my existing plate and left 2cms ether side so to match with the spaces at the top and bottom of the lettering (by law you need to have 11mm ether side of the lettering)
(IMG:http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad322/danw8976/80a3532a.jpg)

5. calculate how much you need to cut out the center of the plate and draw a line starting at the top center point to however much you would like to cut out on the bottom side (see diagram below) do this the same on the other side but from the bottom to however much you want to cut out at the top so you have a diaganal section marked out. these two lines will be the ones you are cutting. by cutting diagonaly insted of straight down it increases the strenghth of the bond when you come to rejoin the two sections
(IMG:http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad322/danw8976/49104a71.jpg)

6. Cut along the lines you have just made with a hack saw or similar.
(IMG:http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad322/danw8976/409093ee.jpg)

7. at this point i primered the surface so it was a flat color and a base so as i knew were i could safley sand down to at the later stages in the process but this is not esential.

8. sand down the cuts slightly so they fit together smoothly and duck tape together at the front.
(IMG:http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad322/danw8976/d0447b8e.jpg)
from behind start the weld the plastic toether with the soldering iron and melt the offcuts of plastic to fill any gaps there may be from the cuts once the gap is filled in and both sides of the plate are strongly bonded in place i left it in the fridge for a hour just so the previoulsy melted platic was nice and hard again.

9. sand down the join till smooth and looks like the origanal shape ect.

10. primer with plastick primer, i then snaded down again as once in a flat color i saw minor imperfections in the join, but this may not be nessesery.

11. once happy with the finish and the primer paint and lacure

12. job done

Pictures to be added when im home

[Dicky]

Looking good mate, nice write up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Gaz]

Looking forward to the pics (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[scrimja]

Pics, pics, pics!!!

I know full well you've been home for nearly 6 hours...

[MILLER_102]

im doing this at the minute too... glad to see another write up =]

il put my pics up when done (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Cwality83]

My poor old number plate surround!! You hacked him to pieces!! And i thought it was going to a good home (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)





Lol, just kidding, looks like it has been very useful for you, and i look forward to seeing the final result (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Danw8986]

i haven't got it painted yet hold your horses should have it pained buy the end of the week and ill get them up as soon as its done

[Danw8986]

sorry guys been realy busy at work, and with some stupid bitch knocking into the rear of me ive had to get other things sorted first but should b done in the next few weeks